Calgary is leaning into trade diversification and global partnerships as the path forward in an increasingly complex and uncertain global economy.
That was the clear message at Calgary Economic Development’s 2026 Report to the Community, presented by WestJet and TELUS Business, where business leaders, government partners and industry representatives gathered to discuss how the city is adapting to shifting trade dynamics and positioning itself for long-term growth.
Held at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, the event focused on how Calgary is expanding into new markets, strengthening international relationships and reinforcing its role as a competitive, outward-looking city.
“In times of uncertainty there is always a temptation to pull inward, to raise barriers and to become more insular. But we know that capital follows the path of least resistance — and in a volatile global environment, it will simply go elsewhere,” said Brad Parry, President & CEO of Calgary Economic Development and CEO of the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund.
“There is strong demand for Calgary-made and Alberta-made solutions in markets around the world. We need to remain outward looking, maintain a global perspective and build new trade relationships so we can support local company expansion and create more opportunities here at home.”
A global shift, and Calgary’s response
The conversation comes at a time of heightened global instability. Rising geopolitical tensions and disruptions to long-standing trade relationships are forcing cities and countries to rethink how they compete — and who they compete with.
As Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas noted, those pressures are not only external. They are also emerging closer to home, in the form of Alberta’s recent separatist movement.
“To choose independence would be to walk away from partnerships that help create opportunity, investments and jobs here in Alberta,” he said.
“We can look to Quebec and understand the long-term economic consequences that come with that sustained uncertainty: capital flight, weakened investor confidence and years of instability.”
Farkas pointed to Calgary’s diversity as a defining advantage in navigating uncertainty. With more than one-third of Calgarians born outside North America, he said “our diversity is our global network.”
“When entrepreneurs arrive here from India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Ukraine, Mexico, China and so many other parts of this world, they do not leave their international networks behind. They bring them with them,” he said.
“While others around the world are turning people away or scapegoating immigrants, our message is simple — you are welcome here, we need your ideas here, we need your businesses here.”
Throughout the event, speakers emphasized that diversification is not just a growth strategy — it’s a risk management strategy in a more fragmented global economy. The past year has shown what that strategy can deliver.
In 2025, Calgary companies expanded into 21 countries across six continents, generating $60 million in international revenue across 45 deals through Calgary Economic Development’s trade programming — a record year. The organization also supported nearly $1 billion in investment and close to 8,000 jobs.
At the same time, local companies expanded into new markets across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, reducing reliance on any single market. That shift reflects a broader rebalancing of global trade, as Canada leverages its trade agreements to access new opportunities abroad.
What experts are seeing on the ground
A panel discussion moderated by CED’s Director of Trade, Shona Reilly, brought together industry leaders to explore how companies are navigating this shift in real time — from entering new markets to building resilient supply chains and adapting to evolving global demand.
The discussion reinforced a consistent theme: in a more complex world, success will depend on Calgary’s ability to stay open, adaptable and globally connected.
Matt Lowe, founder and CEO of ZeroKey, a Calgary-based tech company that has expanded its international presence through CED’s trade programming, said increased trade collaboration between middle powers has resulted in a “substantial tailwind.”
“It's a huge opportunity for Canada, not just in the immediate future, but for long term. We now realize we need to diversify our trading partners, and we need to do so on a long term outlook,” said Lowe.
Panellists also pointed to the upcoming review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement as a key moment, with Gitane De Silva, founder and President of GDStrategic, warning to expect “higher tariffs down the road.”
“As challenging as the past year has been, I think that we now also hopefully have adjusted to the fact that volatility is the new reality, and so we're looking for opportunities in this chaos,” she said.
“I think that Alberta is uniquely well positioned within Canada to really take advantage of this opportunity.”
Carlo Dade, Director of International Policy and the New North America Initiative at the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, urged a measured approach to Canada’s relationship with the U.S.
“Don’t panic. The Americans actually benefit from our panic, from our rush to overreact,” he said. “I think Stephen Harper said ‘a bad deal is worse than no deal’ — the Americans are, to some degree, counting on this.”
Alignment as a competitive advantage
The event also reinforced the role of collaboration in driving long-term economic success.
“Success won’t come from individual efforts alone — it will come from alignment,” said CED Board Vice Chair Usman Tahir Jutt.
“Our plans and strategies give us direction, but it’s the conversations we have, the partnerships we build, and the work we do every day that turns that direction into real, measurable outcomes.”
From Team Calgary partners to all orders of government, alignment across institutions was positioned as critical to ensuring Calgary remains competitive, resilient and ready to capture new opportunities.
“The response cannot be to wait for wars to end, trade agreements to come to fruition or the world to join together in perfect harmony,” said event co-host Geraldine Anderson, CED’s Vice President of External Affairs, Marketing and Communications.
“Our response must be to help Calgary companies become export-ready, look for new doors in new markets, and make sure Calgary is positioned as the kind of partner the world can count on.”
Added, co-host Megan Zimmerman, CED’s Vice President of Trade and Investor Experience:
“We know Calgary is built on a foundation of innovation, ingenuity, grit and community. That’s what makes Calgary the Blue Sky City. It’s a place that looks ahead. That seeks to be connected to the world. And that knows we will go further and faster, if we do it together.”
As global conditions shift, Calgary’s approach is becoming clearer — diversify, stay connected and compete globally. Read more in Calgary Economic Development’s 2025 Annual Report.